Question

Identify the monosaccharide containing only one asymmetric carbon atom in its molecule.

Options

• Ribulose

• Ribose

• Erythrose

• Glyceraldehyde

Answer 1

Glyceraldehyde

Explanation:

\[\begin{array}{cc}
\ce{CHO}\phantom{.............}\\
|\phantom{.................}\\
\ce{H - \underset{{∗}}{C} - OH}\phantom{...}\ce{{glyceraldehyde}}\\
|\phantom{.................}\\
\ce{\underset{asymmetric carbon atom}{CH2OH}}\phantom{...........}
\end{array}\]